NAMWalks for the Mind of America

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 12:01 am

This entry is contributed by my close friend Jason Punko. Jason is a visionary and a great supporter of battles against Mental Illnesses and Disorders. He lives in Alexandria and works for the Government in DC.

[NAMI]

Please read below and consider participating in a local event if at all possible.

On October 4th the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will be holding their NAMWalks for the Mind of America. This 5km walk has the dual purpose of raising both funds and awareness for mental health. This year 69 communities across the country will be holding these walks. In Virginia the walk will be held in Richmonds’ Innsbrook Office Park. The check in time for this event is 9:30 AM with the walk beginning at 10:30 AM. Not only will this event help a great number of people across the state, but it will be lots of fun for everyone who participates. There are a number of festivities planned including celebrity appearances, face painting, a DJ, among other things. NAMI will recognize any individual who raises $100 or more with an event T-Shirt; while also recognizing teams with special awards based on how much money they raise, best team T-Shirts, largest team, etc.

NAMI estimates that 6.5 million dollars will be raised this year to help fund mental illness services for thousands of families across the country this year. All the proceeds from the Virginia walk will be used to fund NAMI programs within the state. These funds support a wide range of programs from education to advocacy for a wide range of mental illnesses. Last year in Virginia alone, 600 people participated in the event and raised over $100,000!

There is a huge need to help raise both funds and awareness for mental health not just here in the United States but worldwide. It is estimated that just the most serious of mental disorders affect between 5 to 10 million adults and 3 to 5 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 here in the United States alone. While many people may think that mental disorders can be overcome by “will power alone,” this is not the case since they are biologically based brain disorders. It is estimated that by the year 2020 that Major Depressive illnesses will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children. No one is immune to mental illnesses; they affect people of all ages, races, genders, religion and income. While all ages are susceptible the young and old are the most vulnerable.

This is a great way to give something back to the community without any expense to you as there is no registration fee. The only cost to you is a little bit of your time among friends while enjoying the scenic view of the lakes at the park. Let’s help the Virginia chapter of NAMI raise even more money then the $100,000 they did last year. For those of you who live in Maryland, you may want to check with your local NAMI chapter to see if they are sponsoring a similar event that is closer to you. The NAMI website is http://www.nami.org .

With as many people affected by mental disorders there is a good chance that you or someone you love may currently be or may someday become affected by them. If you can not make the walk, please consider supporting a fellow team member that participates. You may one day end up helping yourself or a loved one.

Please check with your NAMI chapter to see if there is a local walk in your area. If anyone wishes to participate in the VA walk please send me a message and we can form a team and walk together.